Arctic In Focus

BERING STRAIT SHIPPING: SEA ICE, ECONOMICS, and GOVERNANCE will be held at 10am on January 12 with HENRY HUNTINGTON, Pew Charitable Trusts. Commercial vessel traffic through the Bering Strait is expected to increase in the coming years. Henry Huntingto...

The USCG vessel Healy is conducting scientific research in the Arctic. Check out hourly photos of the Arctic Ocean from its high-mounted webcam... sunrise, sea ice, maybe even a marine mammal or two...

Marine scientists use gliders—one of several types of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)—to gather data across vast stretches of open ocean. Gliders are especially handy in northern seas, where remote locations, harsh weather, and difficult logistics are commonplace.

Arctic collaborations

A data-sharing agreement between NOAA and three oil companies (Shell, ConocoPhillips, and StatOil) with leases in the Chukchi Sea is yielding a wealth of raw environmental studies data collected by ConocoPhillips, Shell and Statoil in the Chukchi Sea between 2008 and 2011. Click here to read more

AOOS and partners have received funding from NOAA to develop data visualization tools for Alaska's Arctic. The collection and synthesis of spatial data into a suite of visualization tools is a critical step for long-term collaborative planning in Alaska for a wide range of coastal uses. This project is called STAMP.

Scientists estimate that that the ocean is 25% more acidic today than it was 300 years ago, traceable to increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and land use change. Alaska waters are especially susceptible because of their unique circulation patterns and colder temperatures—cold water can absorb more CO2 than warm water.

There is an ongoing need for timely and detailed information about sea ice conditions off Alaska. Now, powerful geographic information system (GIS) software and in-house expertise, plus historical databases extending back to the 1950s, have encouraged AOOS to partner with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) to produce a digital sea ice atlas for Alaska waters that will be publicly accessible through the AOOS website.

All mariners must consider the currents created by tidal ebb and flood. When winds and waves are also factors, the speed of these currents can magnify waves to dangerous heights. HF radar is a powerful tool for measuring speed and direction of surface currents.

Marine scientists use gliders—one of several types of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)—to gather data across vast stretches of open ocean. Gliders are especially handy in northern seas, where remote locations, harsh weather, and difficult logistics are commonplace.

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The Arctic is a National Priority

“[The Nation must] address environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental changes.”
–2010 National Ocean Policy

The Arctic is a team effort. As with our efforts statewide, AOOS work in the Arctic builds upon existing efforts and focuses on collaboration to increase the amount of real-time observations. The Arctic is changing with the climate, bringing with it the potential for increased commercial activity and major habitat changes for its permanent residents.